County Attorney News Releases

​Contact:

Monica Jensen651-438-4440

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Man Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced in West St. Paul Homicide – Diego, Donovan Michael

4/9/2014

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Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced that Donovan Michael Diego, age 19 of St. Paul, pled guilty today to Murder in the Second Degree (Intentional) in connection with the shooting death of Luis David Reyes-Galvan, age 31, that occurred outside the victim’s West St. Paul residence on January 11, 2013. Diego was sentenced by Judge Thomas Pugh to 278 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,597.70 (joint and several) to the Minnesota Crime Victim Reparations Board.

In October of last year, Diego and two other individuals, Christino Andres Rosario (age 16 at the time of the incident) of St. Paul, and Malik Jamal Alize Farmer (age 17 at the time of the incident) also of St. Paul, were indicted by a Dakota County Grand Jury for Murder in the First Degree (While Committing Aggravated Robbery), Murder in the Second Degree (Intentional), and Murder in the Second Degree (While Committing a Felony). The additional two counts against Diego were dismissed.

Backstrom commented: “Our deepest sympathy is extended to the victim’s family and friends for their great loss.”

Backstrom praised Assistant County Attorney Kathy Keena who prosecuted the case. Backstrom thanked the West St. Paul Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the St. Paul Police Department who assisted in the investigation of this case.

The cases against Rosario and Farmer are pending.

If you have questions, contact James Backstrom at 651-438-4440.

*Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant/suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.​